Reacting to the measures announced on April 6 by Luis Abinader’s government on migration, in particular the introduction of a protocol on migrants’ access to public health services in the Dominican Republic, Amnesty International said:
“President Luis Abinader must opt for measures to strengthen the health system. Setting up a system that exposes migrants to deportation after receiving medical care not only violates the right to health, but also dehumanizes undocumented migrants and will certainly deter them from going to hospital, putting lives at risk,” said Ana Piquer, Americas Program Director at Amnesty International.
President Luis Abinader must opt for measures to strengthen the healthcare system. Implementing a system that exposes migrants to deportation after receiving medical care not only violates the right to health, but also dehumanizes undocumented migrants and will undoubtedly deter them from going to hospital, putting lives at risk
Ana Piquer, Americas Program Director, Amnesty International
According to reports, the new health protocol requires “an identity document, a letter of employment and proof of residence” from migrant users. In addition, it establishes fees for services and determines that people in an irregular immigration situation will be deported after treatment.
These measures accentuate the government’s disregard for the international obligations contracted by the Dominican state and the human rights recommendations issued against the country by international organizations. In addition, they violate the Dominican Republic’s constitutional principle of free and universal access to health care, institutionalizing discrimination against all migrants, but most directly against undocumented Haitians, asylum seekers, stateless persons and Dominicans of Haitian origin. Amnesty International has found that barriers to accessing public services are particularly critical for migrant children and pregnant women, who are heavily stigmatized for exercising their right to health and education.
“Amnesty International urgently calls on Luis Abinader’s government to immediately halt the collective expulsions of Haitians and repeal the protocol that links access to health services to expulsion. Instead, it must take concrete action against racial discrimination, guarantee access to international protection for those in need, and ensure an environment free from stigmatization,” said Ana Piquer.
Amnesty International is urgently calling on Luis Abinader’s government to put an immediate end to the collective expulsions of Haitians, and to repeal the protocol linking access to health services to expulsion. Instead, it must take concrete action against racial discrimination, guarantee access to international protection for those in need, and ensure a stigma-free environment.
Ana Piquer, Americas Program Director, Amnesty International
Since October 2024, more than 180,000 expulsions have been carried out, which constitute collective expulsion practices prohibited by international law. Amnesty International has launched an urgent action this week to demand an end to collective expulsions of Haitian migrants and the cancellation of discriminatory migration policies that will disproportionately affect them. We call on the Dominican people to reject these cruel and racist measures.